Book index



Sept. 14, 192e. 1,599,930

C. D. YETTER BooK INDEX Filed April l0 1925 Wwyw@ fwm,

Patented Sept. 14, 1926.

UNITED STATES CULVER D. YETTR, OF TOPEKA, KANSAS.

BooK INDEX.

Application led Aprl 10,:1923. Serial No. 631,125`

The invention relates to an improved method and means for paging a sheet with printed matter of the kind ordinarily found in State sta-tutes, pamphlets, and books.

The invention, however, is not beingrestricted to this particular use.

The invention has morefspecific reference to number systems for a permanent set of running section numbers combining chapter,

article and sect-ion numbersand eliminating the dual system of numbering used in all previous compilations and its object is to eliminate the dual system. Y

Under the system of this invention the numbering used in all compilations previous to the last revision eliminate the dual system of numbering and under this plan section numbers are to be divided by a dash; the dash applying to the particular section. 2o For example, the first section in the sample shown apply to a particular section. On the following page is found the first section of the first article in they chapter numbered, say, 55; on the following page will. be found section -QOl, this being the first article of the second article of the same chapter. Thus the number of each section is not only the running section number' but also carries within it the number of the sec-tion of the article and the number .of the section with relation to all the other sections in the same chapter and all other sections in the same volume. This eliminates small chapter, article and section numbers and combines the same with the running section number in a permanent number.

Under the present system of successive number sections the enactment ofv vone new section will entirely derange all numbers of all following sections of later compilations. Under the new system, mounted .sections may be inserted in the compilations with the same section number and new articles may be inserted in chapters without disturbing the numbers of other chapters or sections. New sections may be inserted in future compilations following other sections as supplemented or additional legislation by merely using an additional letter or point or number or other symbol. It will be readily observed that this provides for practically unlimited expansion of future compilations without changing the basic numbers.r 'The advantage Vof such a system giving a permanent reference number, can hardly be over estimated. The numbers of impoitant chapters being once memorized and chapters frequently consulted are surprisingly few, the necessity for consulting the index is re,- duced to a minimum.

Memory tests have proved that short numbers are more easily remembered than WOldS, also that numbers divided in this way are far more easily carried in the mind than solid numbers. Thel chapter and section numbers being both combined and are carried at the upper outside corner of the page7` wherefore, it is made possible to turn to any desired place in the volume almost instantly.

This method of numbering is strictly in accord with modern practice as. will be noted in Corpus Juris also the latest lfederal statutes, the revised statutes of Wisconsin pilation has no connection whatever with section 1,000- of the 'following compilation,

Tf this system is adopted a section which bears a particular number in Ithe Revised Statutes of say 1923 will bear the same number in any following compilation using this numbering system. New acts will take new numbers but the new numbers will in no way interfere with the numbers of the old sections. Therefore, a decision of the Supreme Court which refers toa sectionof the Revised Statutes of 1923 by section number will always refer tothe same section number so long as that section remains in,

effect, regardless of how many compilations may intervene. The Supreme `Court reports' are -a permanent record of thev construction of the statutes of the State and it is believed that a very great economy .ofV time would result in making the. numbering system of the revised statutes as permanent as the Supreme Court reports. VIn case any section which is permanently numberedv in the new compilation is subsequently Vrepealed without constituting venactment the number would be carried in `following compilations followed by the word Repealed giving proper reference to the repealing act. This would automatically make every succeeding compilation a complete record of legislation subsequent to the revision.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification with the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing in the drawingsv but may be changed and modified so long as such changes and modifications make no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

By reference to the accompanying drawling, which drawing is a view of a chosen part of the numbering system and includes a chosen chapter, designated chapter 55, article l on partnerships and continuing to chapter 55, article 109 and is to be taken as illustrative of the entire index but it is to be understood the index may be extended to any desired length along the lines suggested in the drawing.

In the drawing, the section of the index illustrated has been chosen as relative to partnerships without limitation to suoli particular part of the index but will serve as a sufficient illustration to illustrate the index and from which the numbering system may be readily worked out.

It will be observed that the dual system of numbering already referred to is omitted as above stated. Taking a concrete example, the first page of the sample pages is section 55-101. This is the first section in these pages and is the first article in chapter 55. On the following page will be found 55-201 which is to be the second section of the second article of thel same chapter. Thus the number of each section is not only the running section number but also carries within it the number of the chapter, the number of the article and the number of the section with relation to all the other sections in the same chapter. i

The old form was to number every section in the statute beginning with 1 and consecutively to the end. In the new compilation if there had been one new section, one new law enacted by the legislature this would require the changing of every subsequent section number in the book at great expense. So there has been adopted a modern system which is by chapters and articles. The first Vnumber or numbers are the chapters. The second number or numbers are the article and section numbers, every article constituting 100 numbers.

As typical take procedure civil which happens to be chapter 59 in the revision. The first section will be 59-101. This shows at a glance that this is the rst section of article 1 of the chapter. 59-201 is article 2 in that chapter. It gives a practitioner and searcher for the section the immediate information as to the chapter and title and returning to the statute he finds at the upper left hand corner the particular chapter and article that he wants so that instead of having to run through 100 or more sections he turns at once to the chapter and article indicated by the number.

The advantage of the compilation plan of the scheme outlined above is similar to the modern form of street numbering. F ormerly in cities the numbers began at one end of the street and ran consecutively to the other end. As an example, Broadway, New York city is an example of the old style which is retained for` sentimental reasons and very confusing. Even old residents of New York do not know where 57 Broadway is without asking a policeman. The modern way is 100 through the block so that one knows 101 always means a corner and anyone familiar with the city knows the exact street number. Similar systems have been adopted by Congress and some of the cities in more rec-ent revisions. It is about the only innovation that the invention proposes.

The most important feature of the system of numbering of this invention is made by the addition of new session laws in a new compilation'. F or instance, if there is an amendment to some section of chapter 57, article 1 the present number would go in as 57-105 simply added to that article. No other section of the statute would need be disturbed. All other sections of the revision would be exactly as they now are. If there should be no new revision for fifty years every section number would remain as it now is. Amended sections would take the place of the old. New sections would be added to the particular article adding one number to the second series of numbers. Lawyers and others interested in the revised statutes who will learn the chapter and section numbers will be able to find them as rapidly twenty-five years from now, after three or four compilations as they do now. This feature alone makes the new numbering system worth while. It is really the important part of it. It saves much expense in new compilations besides the convenience to be able to refer to well known sections by well known numbers. Year after year the Supreme Court will refer to these same numbers in considering these sections. Instead of lia-ving to run through a maze of compiled law where reference is made by sections as is frequent in the decisions of the Supreme Court, there will be one .clear section num# ber which will remain or should remain as long as the State has a statute book.

In the drawings, there is shown a sheet 1 representative of a portion of an index relating to the heading partnerships indicated at 2 While in the upper left-hand corner is a sub-heading 3 referring to chapter 55, article l or any other part of the index. Following chapter 5, partnerships, is article 1, limited partnerships designated at 4 and designating various sub-headings thereunder indicated at 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10, all of Which is self explanatory.

What is claimed is An index for a publication of the class described, comprising a sheet bearing an index by chapter, article and section number, the chapters being designated by consecutive numbers and each article in said chapter being denoted by a number consisting of three figures, the first digit of which designates the article number and the remaining digits of which designate the section number in said article.

In testimony whereof I aIiX my signature.

GULVER D. YETTER. 

